Water in china

Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell's post-meeting comments will be pored closely watched for an idea about the bank's plans for 2019. (Photo: AFP/Mark Wilson) However, there is still caution on trading floors after Friday's sharp sell-off fuelled by concerns over China's economy, and despite a tweet from Donald Trump suggesting a trade deal could be hammered out between Washington and Beijing. While there are signs the world's top two economies are beginning to move towards a resolution in their bitter tariffs spat, there are increasing concerns about the global outlook following another dour set of indicators out of China. A string of below-par readings this year have highlighted a slowdown in the Asian giant and observers are forecasting leaders will unveil fresh measures to pep up the economy, which is on course for another year of relatively weak growth. A speech from President Xi Jinping on Tuesday to mark 40 years since China's economy began opening up will be closely watched, … [Read more...] about Asian markets rise ahead of key meetings in China and US

A pair of "Ababis" trainers - with one stripe too many - retails at the mouth-watering price of 39 yuan (US$5.70). (Photo: AFP/Fred Dufour) As China held its massive annual "Singles Day" online sales event on Sunday (Nov 11), shoppers could still find cheap imitations on Alibaba's Taobao app despite the company's efforts to curb sales of counterfeit goods. United States and European companies have long complained about the theft of intellectual property in China, a central issue in the US-China trade war. President Xi Jinping renewed a pledge this week to protect IP rights, and a law is set to take effect on Jan 1 to punish e-commerce companies if fake goods are sold on their platforms. Chinese retail giant Alibaba's Taobao app is home to a treasure trove of knockoffs. (Photo: AFP/Fred Dufour) But few moments of the year highlight the policing mountain authorities face quite like Singles Day - China's equivalent to "Black Friday". AFP was able to find a veritable treasure … [Read more...] about ‘Ababis’ and ‘Star Wnrs’: Knockoffs thrive in China e commerce

Officers and sailors on the 015 Tran Hung Dao greet as they approach the Chinese dock on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Hai Quan Newspaper The 015 Tran Hung Dao, a Russian built Gepard-class frigate with advanced military equipment, arrived at Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, Sunday, to join the five-day ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise that will last from Monday to Friday. Making an announcement at a gathering of ASEAN defense ministers in Singapore, also attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart, Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said Friday that the first joint drills between China and ASEAN would help to "build trust, confidence," Reuters reported. The Vietnamese crew will participate in tactical drills, mapping and field exercises, and naval exercises. Officers and sailors of the Vietnamese frigate will also enjoy entertainment events including sports and cultural exchanges with sailors of other Southease Asian and Chinese naval vessels. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese frigate docks in China for naval exercise

Trump signed the $716 billion defense policy at the U.S. Army’s Fort Drum base in upstate New York on his way back to Washington on Monday, after a 12-day working vacation at his golf club in New Jersey. The bill was named for one of Trump’s political critics, the ailing U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona, but he did not mention McCain’s name. McCain said in a statement he was “humbled” the bill was named after him, adding that it will address “a growing array of threats.” Trump later made a reference to McCain at a political fundraiser in Utica, New York, knocking him - as Trump does repeatedly - for voting against a bill to repeal parts of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare reform law last year. Even though Trump said the bill “is the most significant investment in our military and our war-fighters in modern history,” Obama’s first three defense budgets were larger, when adjusted for inflation, … [Read more...] about Trump signs defense policy bill with watered-down China measures

Cha Huilan, a 40-year old Lisu woman, and her daughter leave Lazimi village with a zipline across the Nu River in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, China, March 24, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Aly Song Cha Huilan, a mother of two living in a Chinese mountain village cut off by a raging river, dangles from a harness hooked to a zipline every time she crosses its violent rapids and jagged rocks on frequent trips to buy medicine for her mother. Using a boat is out of the question for the villagers of Lazimi, which lacks proper roads and bridges because the rocks and foaming waters of the river Nu, whose name means “angry” in Chinese, make it just too dangerous to risk. “If they built a bridge, that would be nice, but for now we can’t get over there,” said Cha, who has come to see the zipline as just another inconvenience, even if her two-year-old has to cling to her for dear life on every visit to a Saturday market. Most villagers, who … [Read more...] about Just zipping out to the shops: mountain dwellers soar over angry rapids in China

Water experts in Vietnam have suggested re-using waste water to help protect vital resources. As untreated waste water is discharged directly into the environment, both surface water and underground water resources face high risk of either running out or becoming too polluted to drink.A wastewater treatment system at the Bình Hưng Wastewater Treatment Plant in HCM City. Few industrial zones in Vietnam have sustainable waste-water treatment solutions, according to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Water reserves in Vietnam have fallen sharply in the last two decades. The average consumption of water per person was 12,800cu.m in 1990. It dropped to 9,000cu.m per person in 2015 and is likely to fall to 3,000cu.m in 2025.Đào Trọng Tứ, director of the Centre for Sustainable Development of Water Resources and Adaptation to Climate Change, said that a quickly growing population and more economic activities required more water. However, this had … [Read more...] about Vietnam is running out of clean water

When Boeing's P-8A Poseidon first arrived at the Singapore Airshow two years ago, it caused a stir. Defense buyers around the region were intrigued by the new aircraft, which was touted as reliable, capable and absolutely necessary in a region abundant with naval tension, both above and below the water. In 2018, the need has grown. China has spent the last few years building up military installations around the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, and its submarines are prowling farther afield, stoking Asian interest in planes that can sweep large swathes of ocean. The number of offerings on the market has grown too, but the cost of such specialized aircraft has kept the purchases relatively small for now. "Special-mission aircraft are a strategic asset," said Avishai Izhakian, Israel Aerospace Industry's (IAI) deputy general manager for airborne systems and radars, explaining why sales of such planes have remained elusive. "As such, the procurement process is … [Read more...] about Maritime patrol aircraft seen as key in Asia, but buyers elusive

It is a biannual gathering held in rotation by the cooperation mechanism’s six member states, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The meeting takes place at the time when the Mekong sub-region both looks towards growth opportunities and faces several challenges including environmental damage, water resources, and climate change. Under the theme “Peaceful river and our sustainable development,” the second MLC Summit will review cooperation among the countries over the last two years, and discuss their cooperation orientations in the time to come. The first summit opened on March 23, 2016 in China. Its general targets are to foster a comprehensive connection to build a responsible community and common benefit in the Mekong sub-region. Photo: VNA Additionally, MLC eyes other targets, such as consolidating mutual trust and understanding for maintaining peace and stability; speeding up sustainable development, … [Read more...] about Further expanding sustainable development in Mekong sub-region

QUẢNG BÌNH — Authority in the central province of Quảng Bình’s Quảng Đông Commune has removed more than 100cu.m of soil and water contaminated with sodium hydroxide from the 19/5 Village. The information was released on Friday by Nguyễn Đức Hiền, chairman of the commune’s People’s Committee. The removal was conducted within two days in the presence of residents and under supervision of the commune authority. The contaminated land and soil was treated as per regulations. Following Typhoon Doksuri, the 10th typhoon of 2017, which hit the province at the end of September last year, several chemical wells were affected in a 1,000sq.m store in the village. The typhoon destroyed the store’s roof and the chemicals from the store spread to the environment, burning grass in the surrounding area, leading to a foul-smelling out door. Inspection by the commune authorities … [Read more...] about Contaminated soil, water removed from residential area

Social housing: Loan interest rate maintained at 5% The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has decided to keep preferential loan interest rate unchanged at 5 per cent for purchase, rent or hire of social housing projects in 2018.The decision took effect from the beginning of this year, replacing Decision No 2544/QD-NHNN, dated December 30, 2016, on interest rate for loans applicable in 2017 for social housing projects.The interest rates will be applied for house buyers who have already sought loans from the VND30 trillion (US$1.32 billion) housing stimulus package launched in 2013 as the minimum repayment term is 15 years, and from the Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP).The VND30 trillion (US$1.32 billion) housing stimulus package aimed primarily at social policy beneficiaries and estate developers of such projects. Of which, VND21 trillion, accounting for 70 per cent of the package’s total has been given to home buyers of projects. The remaining 30 per cent … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 5/1